My name is James Chan. I live and work in Philadelphia. I founded a business consultancy in 1983 to help U.S. companies market American-made products and services to China and other Asian countries. In the course of doing my work, I have had the good fortune of meeting many people like me--people who invented their own careers by turning who they are and how they want to live into businesses that give them freedom and autonomy to make their own decisions. Their life experiences, plus those of my own, prompted me to write this book, Spare Room Tycoon, with my friend and American writer on history, culture, and design, Thomas Hine (www.ThomasHine.com).

In this book, Tom and I document the trials, tribulations, and triumphs of 40 men and women including ourselves who--after years of working for companies--decided to start and run businesses on our own.

I'd like to share a few sample chapters of Spare Room Tycoon with you on this website. As "spare room tycoons," we experience all sorts of issues--emotional, psychological, financial, and logistical. These stories show you how we collectively have resolved these issues and overcome our common problems to make our businesses last and prosper.

The book also chronicles the elation that we feel when we finally learn how to grapple with our day-to-day insecurities, fears and angst and succeed despite all odds. My publisher, Mr. Nick Brealey of Nicholas Brealey Publishing in London, U.K., once said to me: "Your book will not grow old." This is because the lessons that we've learned will not grow old.

I hope this book finds a kindred spirit in you. May it give you confidence when you need it most, ignite your passion, and pick up courage to keep going when times are bad and nothing seems to be happening.

May it give you peace and joy when you're getting paid doing what you love to do and realizing your mission in life.